Doyletech has assisted many Canadian Sector Councils in various industry research and engagement activities related to skills development and definition. The following summarizes the types of projects we have completed for Sector Councils.

Occupational Skills Profiling – Implementing Occupational Skills Profiling Processes and Research

Occupational skills profiles provide standardized skills descriptions – a foundation stone for identifying, recruiting, assessing, and retraining workers. They allow jobs to be compared across industries, countries, and over time. They provide a vital tool in foreign credential recognition and allow employers to target and address skills gaps in their organization.

Our team has in-depth experience in all aspects of occupational skills profiles, from development of new ones to expansion of existing models. For example, our year-long project for ICTC led the way for this Sector Council to broaden its scope to cover hardware in addition to the software industries. We developed occupational skills profiles for the nine most important hardware jobs identified by industry leaders across the country.

Labour Market Intelligence – Researching Sector Labour Markets

A deeper understanding of sector labour markets is fundamental in developing human resource strategies. Our team has worked with industry, government, and educators to provide accurate data, analysis and forecasting in human resource issues. For example, our special analysis for ICTC (“The Coming Challenge of Nanotechnology“) revealed that mainstream hardware industry jobs like design engineering are already beginning to incorporate nanotechnology skills. The shift has been building since 2000 when the semiconductor industry began routine production of chips with critical features smaller than 100 nm.

Industry Research & Quick Stats – Conducting Research and Engaging Industry

Research provides industry intelligence on a variety of issues that impact human resource management. Our research projects have ranged from executive interviewing, macroeconomic profiling, compensation statistics, Sector structure and demographics, Sector HR best practices, global drivers and Canada’s relative positioning, policy implications, and the analysis of emerging Sector developments / technologies / segments.

In addition to the above, Doyletech’s Quick Stats service can provide Sector Councils with a comprehensive statistical overview of their Sector. Our research has provided Sector Councils with the industry knowledge necessary to support policy and strategy recommendations. We have also been engaged on many occasions to ensure that the best possible industry representation is realized for a variety of consultative sessions.

Skills Roadmapping – Creating Skills-Based Roadmaps

Technology drives skills by reshaping business. Yet, traditional roadmaps are silent on the new skills that result. Doyletech and its partners have responded to this challenge with a new kind of roadmap developed for HRSDC and Industry Canada.

The model was shaped by five years of pioneering work with the Information and Communications Technology Council. It incorporates the results of our research on both European and American roadmaps to build a uniquely Canadian model that maps the interwoven fabric of skills and economic structure to help meet tomorrow’s HR needs.

Since 2000, economic research has made significant progress in understanding how technology changes the rules of the game for industry – rewriting the skills agenda in the process. It is now accepted that innovation drives over 80% of economic growth. But the price is continual change – seen in the rise of new industries like software and semiconductors and the reshaping of long-established ones from banking to retailing.

Technology lies at the very root of economic structure: the organization and division of labour. It determines the skills sets needed in industry. For example, Information and Communications Technology (ICT) represents 6% of Canadian GDP. However, OECD data shows that 20% of all workers need to apply ICT. Moreover, the OECD experience is that formal education is ineffective in keeping pace with the rapid skills changes driven by technical advances. The need for forward looking skills solutions by HR Councils has never been greater.

Our approach is built around applying practical models of technology-driven change. These outline how industry evolves as new developments grow from exception to best practice. The duration, nature and extent of skills change are largely determined by this evolutionary process.

The work of understanding skills requirements is overseen by a steering committee of leaders from industry, education, and government. The forecasting and analysis of important industry trends is built around key applications selected by the steering committee. These applications are chosen based on their strategic importance, expected contribution to GDP growth, and Canadian capabilities relative to competition. The research results are validated, refined and interpreted in the regional context through a series of cross country consultations led by the project team. The following figures outline our skills-based roadmap and our emphasis on both the technical and the supporting skills that are needed.

Sample of Past Projects

Expanding the Reach of ICTC – Occupational Profile Development for the Hardware Sector
This project was a major step toward extending ICTC’s Occupational Skills Profile Model (OSPM) to cover the entire ICT sector. The OSPM is central to all of ICTC’s activities, including labour market intelligence, career awareness, and foreign credential recognition. It is the national standard for defining jobs, education requirements, accountabilities, and required skills in the information and communications technology sectors. We conducted focus groups across Canada, using our industry connections to ensure the most appropriate participation by those in the Canadian hardware sectors.

The Canadian Technology Vision Conference (TVC)
We drew on our extensive work with the Canadian ICT industry and its research and development community to organize a one-day presentation by Canada’s leading researchers on technologies of particular importance to the future of ICT. Specifically, the following was achieved: (1) brought together diverse stakeholders in the Canadian ICT sector (including industry executives, research leaders, educational and government representatives, by invitation); (2) succeeded in securing consensus on technologies where Canada should focus its efforts; and (3) identified go-forward options and considerations for Canadian development in these technology areas.

Scoping of the Canadian Hardware Industries – Principal Sub Sectors, Employment, Hardware/Software Splits, and Occupational Streams
This project was ICTC’s initial examination of the structure and employment in the hardware sector. It was a first important step in their development of accurate and detailed hardware occupational profiles. The major objective was to prepare a framework for ICTC to scope out the Canadian hardware sector, enabling an analysis of its principal sub sectors and occupational streams.

Pilot Study of the Hardware Industries with Human Resource Implications
This study profiled the structure and dynamics of the Canadian hardware industries: microelectronics, photonics, wireless, and their integration into the larger electronic systems business.

A Wireless Technology Roadmap for Canada 2006-2016 (WTRM) – with Skills Implications
This project involved an assessment of Canada’s strengths and weaknesses in wireless technology and the identification of major projects that could be undertaken by the industry to capture a larger share of the world market for wireless products and services. This national technology roadmap for the wireless industry involved extensive market research on developing technology trends, as well as on Canada’s positioning with respect to its international competitors and a comprehensive gap analysis. A significant number of interviews with technical experts were conducted to evaluate the best technology options potentially available to deliver products envisioned for the future. There has also been an assessment of the impact of market forces on the demand for the envisioned products. Industry executives, university professors, researchers, government officials, and technical experts were interviewed to arrive at conclusions and recommendations for the WTRM. During the ICTC Technology Vision Conference (TVC), it became clear that existing roadmapping done in Canada stopped short of what industry needed. Attendees indicated that further development of the model was needed to fully reflect human resource needs for students, educators, business, and government.

A Skills and Technology Roadmap (STRM) for the Printing Industries in Canada
This national roadmapping project was conducted for the Canadian Printing Industries Sector Council. It was both a technology roadmap and a skills roadmap (STM) wherein the technology and skills needed for Canada to compete internationally in the printing industry were identified. We augmented Industry Canada’s TRM model with our own skills-based model (see figure above). The combined approach yielded a much deeper insight into the technologies that impact the sector and more importantly, the gaps such as skills, R&D, investment, regulation, etc. that affect the evolution of those technologies. This assignment involved the development of a background research report, a TRM process guide for participants,  summary presentations after each Steering Committee (SC) and Working Group (WG) meeting, facilitation of meetings across Canada (including with the SC and WG), and the development of a final STRM report.

Updating of the Occupational Skills Profile Model (OSPM) Glossary
The Occupational Skills Profile Model (OSPM) glossary was updated and revised to reflect our recent focus groups with professionals in the hardware sectors. Updated definitions for the master skills list were provided, pertaining to the new hardware sector job categories.

The Legacy Skills Gap – A Trend Report
Legacy applications are the backbone of IT systems in many large organizations. The retirement of baby boomers has left a legacy skills gap in the IT labour market. This study assessed the degree of impact that would be felt by organizations going forward, including both a qualitative and quantitative assessment of how large the problem is, or may become. Interviews were held with both legacy application users and suppliers to identify activities which would help these organizations deal with the legacy skills gap.

Introduction to Information and Communications Technology (ICT)
A snapshot of the information and communications technology sector was developed including an outline of the products and services the sector provides. Core technologies making up the ICT industry were examined; namely, microelectronics, photonics, nanotechnology, wireless, and software. The purpose of the document was to help inform the non-technical reader about ICT and how it is profoundly reshaping the Canadian economy. It would be used by ICTC in its ongoing interactions with students, teachers, guidance counselors, and other stakeholders.